Missing teen's family pleads for help
Last Updated: Wednesday, September 23, 2009 | 12:22 PM AT
CBC News
Related
Internal Links
Audio
- Radio-Canada's François Lejeune speaks with Pamela Fillier, Hilary Bonnell's mother, about her daughter's disappearance (Runs: 1:47)
- Play: Real Media »
Members of the Eskinuopitijk First Nation march on Tuesday to draw attention to the disappearance of Hilary Bonnell. (CBC)The family of Hilary Bonnell is begging for help to find the teenager who disappeared from the Eskinuopitijk First Nation almost three weeks ago.
Sherry Ward, Bonnell's aunt, is asking people in the northeastern New Brunswick community of Eskinuopitijk, commonly known as Burnt Church, to check their own properties for the missing teenager.
"There is a predator out there. Hilary did not run away. Somebody had to have taken her for her not to be here," Ward said.
"There was no need for her to run away. She would have never run away. That's why we're asking for help. Anyone and everyone look in your backyards, pray, if you see anything call 911, do something."
Ward said nothing like this has ever happened on their reserve.
The Eskinuopitijk First Nation is offering a $15,000 reward to anyone with information leading to her safe return.
Police, family and friends have been searching for the 16-year-old by air and on the ground.
And on Tuesday, members of the reserve marched along the community's streets to bring attention to Bonnell's disappearance.
She said people are scared and young people are being warned not to walk anywhere alone.
Pamela Fillier, Bonnell's mother, said the ordeal is a "bad dream" that she cannot seem to wake up from.
"I wish to God I could [wake up]. I wish this was just a bad dream," Fillier said.
"This don't happen around here. Anybody that brings her home, even if it's the people that have her, they could have the reward, just bring her home."
Bonnell was last seen walking along Highway 11 at about 7:30 a.m. on Sept. 5. She disappeared after attending a party with friends the night before on the Eskinuopitijk First Nation, known as Burnt Church.
Bonnell is aboriginal, has dark eyes and black, shoulder-length hair. She is five feet five inches tall and weighs about 134 pounds. She was last seen wearing a purple T-shirt, a black sweater, jean shorts and sandals.
Share Tools
Latest New Brunswick News Headlines
- Armed robbery at Saint John gas bar
- There was an armed robbery at a Saint John, N.B., gas station Friday night. more »
- Cataractes advance to Memorial Cup final by beating Sea Dogs
- Yannick Veilleux broke a tie at 13:14 of the third period as the host Shawinigan Cataractes upset the defending champion Saint John Sea Dogs 7-4 in the semifinal of the Mastercard Memorial Cup on Friday night. more »
- 4 arrests in Elsipogtog drug trafficking case
- Four people are facing charges in connection with a two-month long investigation into prescription drug trafficking on Elsipogtog First Nation. more »
- David Alward worried about EI changes
- Premier David Alward says he's worried proposed changes to employment insurance will hurt seasonal industries in the province, such as fishing, forestry and tourism. more »
Top News Headlines
- Teen struck by lightning in Ottawa dies
- The victim of a Friday lightning strike during a storm in east Ottawa has died, CBC News has learned. more »
- Everest team unable to bring down Toronto woman's body
- Bad weather has hampered the recovery team that is attempting to bring down the body of a Toronto woman who died trying to climb Mt. Everest. more »
- 32 Syrian children die in artillery attack, says UN
- More than 90 people have been killed by regime forces in a district of central Syria, with the head of the UN team in the country confirming at least 32 children and 60 adults were killed the attack. more »
- Woman's remains found in hockey bag on Cape Breton river
- Police in Nova Scotia are investigating after a woman's remains were found in a hockey bag floating on a Cape Breton river Friday night. more »
- 4 arrests in Elsipogtog drug trafficking case
- Armed robbery at Saint John gas bar
- David Alward worried about EI changes
- Woman robs store in Tracadie-Sheila
- Loose dog prevents mail delivery to area residents
- Pension snafu may erode public trust, says Norton
- Main Street reopened to traffic
- Pharmacists get generic drug pricing 'transition period'
- Bathurst teen charged with attempted murder

